Firearms inquiries in Florida: "medical privacy" or medical neglect?

A recent Florida law, Medical Privacy Concerning Firearms, potentially bars physicians from being able to ask patients about firearms ownership unless safety is an immediate concern. The ability of physicians to provide preventive medicine and perform risk assessments could be threatened. The ensuing debate has focused on a political and constitutional battleground between physicians and patients. In this article, we analyze the arguments from both perspectives and offer suggestions to physicians facing this unique clinical dilemma.